F-1 Visa Status

Other Information

Travel and reentry: Reentry after an absence of more than 5 months

An absence from the United States of 5 months or more,
where the student was not participating full-time in study
abroad or graduate research abroad, is considered a
non-temporary absence. If a student wishes to return to the
United States to resume studies or begin new studies, a new
SEVIS record will have to be created, a new I-20 would have
to be issued from the new SEVIS record, and the SEVIS I-901
fee would have to be paid. In this case, the student is
considered an initial student, and the clock for eligibility
for F-1 benefits such as practical training and off-campus
work authorization is reset.